“Today we got what we have been dreaming of for years,” said Yellubai Gollar, 80, her face lighting up with a broad smile. On Monday, Ms Gollar was among 2,634 people who were allotted homes in a lottery held by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) for mill workers.
The Gollar household hasn’t stopped smiling since they got the news on Thursday. “We are trying to contain our happiness. The realisation is still sinking in,” said Govinda Gollar, Yellubai Gollar’s son. Yellubai’s husband, now no more, used to work in Prakash Cotton, one of six mills whose workers were eligible for the flats that have come up in buildings constructed on what was once mill land. The applicants of the MHADA lottery worked in Century Mills, Swan Mills, Prakash Cotton Mills, Ruby Mills, Western India Mills and Bharat Mills.
Under the MHADA scheme, the mill workers would get 250 sq ft flats worth Rs 9.5 lakh. The cut-off year was set as 1981, making only those mill workers eligible who were on the mill’s roster that year. “The government has taken one step forward. Earlier it wasn’t even discussing the housing issue with us,” said Datta Iswalkar. Mr Iswalkar has been at the forefront of the mill workers’ struggle for homes and compensation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was at the allocation ceremony at Rangsharda Hall, Bandra, assured the audience that the state government is working hard to provide houses to all mill workers. A total of 1.84 lakh mill workers were affected by the demise of the city’s textile industry.
Yellubai Gollar attributes the allotment of the house to her daughter-in-law, Saroja Gollar, who participated in the struggle for housing.
For her friend and neighbour Noor Jahan Sheikh, though, it is a bittersweet day. She is overjoyed at the fact that Gollar family finally got a flat. However, she is among the thousands who await their turn. “We have been fighting for this for so long that we are fed up. But today there’s at least a ray of hope,” she said. At the event, there were hundreds who had dejection written all over their faces. One of them was Chandrakant Dhumal. “I have come all the way from Satara. My travel costs alone are over Rs 500.” Noor Jahan feels that given the number of people who have hopes for a flat, there are bound to be those who are disappointed when only a handful gets it. The Gollar family says it will continue to fight for millworkers’ housing. “Just because we have got a house doesn’t mean we stop fighting. We will continue to fight until our struggle ends,” said Saroja Gollar.
It will be a few months before families get the keys to their houses, as the buildings are not yet ready for possession. “All those who have been allocated need to furnish proof that they did work in the respective mills,” said Pravin Yerunkar, General Secretary, Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti. Also, many might find it difficult to finance the flat. “If there are those who don’t or are unable to take up the allocated flats, there is also a waitlist,” said Mr Yerunkar. Moreover, the families cannot sell the flats.
For the remaining millworkers, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is building houses in Panvel, Kalyan and Vasai. The flats’ size would be 320 sq ft and would cost Rs 6 lakh. “The lottery will be held in August and will be open for general millworkers, not those of a particular mill,” said Mr Yerunkar. “Work will also start on 10 other mills soon,” he added.
The writer is an intern with The Hindu
